The President of Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law Commission,
Hon Judith Collins KC, says the Commission welcomes the
Government’s response to the Commission’s
recommendations for significant reform of the Protection of
Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 (PPPR Act).
The
Commission delivered its report to the Minister of Justice
in January. It recommends that the PPPR Act be repealed and
replaced by a new Act. A new Act is required to properly
reflect the importance of decision-making support, ensure
representative decision-making is centred on the rights,
wishes and values of the represented person, and strengthen
safeguards and oversight of decision-making
arrangements.
In its response, the Government accepted
in principle the central recommendation that legislative
reform is required, and indicated an intention to commence
substantive work on that reform as a priority next
Parliamentary term.
“We welcome the Government’s
recognition of the substantial work that has gone into the
report from Law Commission staff and its acknowledgment of
the many people who shared with us their experiences and
views along the way.”
“The PPPR Act touches the
lives of thousands of New Zealanders, and those numbers are
projected to increase dramatically in coming years” says
Collins. “It is imperative that the law be updated to
reflect modern expectations, to comply with New Zealand’s
obligations under the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and to protect and
promote the dignity, autonomy and equality of people with
affected decision making.”
About Te Aka Matua o te
Ture I Law Commission
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Te Aka Matua o te Ture | Law
Commission is an Independent Crown entity operating under
its own statute, the Law Commission Act 1985. It reports to
the Minister responsible for the Law Commission. The
Commission’s statutory purpose is to “promote the systematic
review, reform and development of the law of New Zealand”.
The Commission receives its work programme of law reform and
development work as references from the responsible Minister
under section 7 of the Law Commission Act and from
Parliament. Visit lawcom.govt.nz
for more
information.
